Being the first daughter of the mighty Ignatius Eridanus, the feisty Ignatia had always felt a strong duty to Country and Manór. To that end, she had devoted herself completely to warring and fighting. She was bound to her duty to the House Royale DeMont. There was naught else for her, save for slavery of one type or another. Second-born son of the House Royale DeMont, the conceited and married Hannibal Torreador had trained just as hard as a warrior. The young lord's passion for war, however, was more of an idle pastime than out of need for survival. Together with Hannibal's brother Warren and Ignatia's betrothed Clive Napier, they had traveled with the supply caravan to Queenston as a guard. After an unprovoked attack, Warren and Clive lay dead and Ignatia severely wounded and utterly vulnerable. And Hannibal had to fight himself to keep from admitting that he had always been in love with her.